Decorative coatings for plants and plant materials

Abstract

Decorated plants or plant materials include flowers, leaves and/or branches, and a decorative coating having a color, texture and/or gloss unusual to the native plant or plant material extending from a portion of a flower, leaf and/or branch. The coating is applied as a substantially anhydrous material. Methods are also described.

1 . A method of decorating a plant or plant material, the method comprising:
 providing a plant or plant material; and   applying a substantially anhydrous material comprising a solvent, a binder soluble in the solvent and, optionally, a colorant to the plant or plant material to provide a coating on the plant or plant material.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a measured pH of a 10 weight percent mixture of 92 parts by weight of the anhydrous material and 8 parts by weight of POE (4) lauryl alcohol in water is between about 5.5 and about 8.5. 
   
   
       3 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a substantially insoluble pigment which is dispersible in the solvent, or a dye. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a substantially insoluble pigment which is dispersible in the solvent, and wherein the insoluble pigment comprises mica and/or titanium dioxide. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a substantially insoluble pigment which is dispersible in the solvent, and wherein the insoluble pigment comprises particles ground to a reduced size. 
   
   
       6 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the colorant comprises a substantially insoluble pigment which is dispersible in the solvent, and wherein the insoluble pigment comprises particles having a maximum dimension of less than 5 μm. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises alcohol. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol (2-methyl-1-propanol), and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the alcohol comprises methanol and/or isobutanol. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises ether. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ether comprises ethyl ether and/or tetrahydrofuran. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises hydrocarbon. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon comprises heptane and/or toluene. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises ketone. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ketone comprises acetone and/or methyl ethyl ketone. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises ester. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ester comprises ethyl acetate. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a boiling point at 1 atm pressure of less than about 175° C. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent has a vapor pressure of greater than about 7.5 mm Hg at 25° C. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the binder comprises a polyamide and/or a polyamide copolymer. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polyamide comprises a Nylon-6 and/or a Nylon 6-based copolymer. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polyamide has a relative viscosity (RV), as measured using ASTM D2857-95 in methanol, of less than about 50.0. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the binder has a number average molecular weight relative to narrow disperse polyethylene glycol standards in tetrahydrofuran of less than about 25,000. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is present in the substantially anhydrous material from about 2.5 percent to about 30.0 percent by weight. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colorant is present in the substantially anhydrous material from about 2.5 percent to about 25 percent by weight. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is present in the substantially anhydrous material from about 60.0 percent to about 95.0 percent by weight. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially anhydrous material has less than about 1 percent by weight water, as measured by Karl Fischer titration using ASTM E203-01. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially anhydrous material further comprises an anti-wicking material. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially anhydrous material further comprises a emulsifier. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the emulsifier comprises a non-ionic emulsifier, ionic emulsifier or a mixture of a non-ionic and ionic emulsifier. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially anhydrous material further comprises a biocidal material. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provided plant or plant material is a live plant, such as a potted plant or a tree. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the live plant is selected from the group consisting of aloe, azalea, amaryllis, American ivy, bird-of-paradise, buttercup, cactus, day lily, Easter lily, hyacinth, hydrangea, ivy, jasmine, morning glory, oleander, poinsettia, and Virginia creeper. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the provided plant or plant material is a non-living, dried plant material. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the non-living, dried plant material is selected from the group consisting of mosses, eucalyptus, cattails, bearded wheat, oak leaves, lotus pods, willow branches, palms, twisted ting ting, birch twigs, bamboo, pine cones, holly, sisal, wreathes, ferns, dried roses, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       36 . A method of decorating a plant or a plant material, the method comprising:
 providing a plant or plant material;   transferring the plant or plant material to an application station;   applying a substantially anhydrous material comprising a solvent, a binder soluble in the solvent and, optionally, a colorant to the plant or plant material to provide a coating on the plant or plant material; and   removing the solvent from the coating to provide a dried coating on the plant or plant material.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the solvent is removed by passing air over the plant or plant material having the coating. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the air is at a temperature of not more than about 50° C. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the applying is performed by dipping the plant or plant material in a vessel containing the substantially anhydrous material. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the applying is performed by spraying the plant or plant material with the substantially anhydrous material. 
   
   
       41 . A decorated plant or plant material comprising:
 a flower, leaf and/or branch; and   a decorative coating extending from a portion of the flower, leaf and/or branch,
 wherein the decorative coating is applied as a substantially anhydrous material comprising a solvent, a binder soluble in the solvent and, optionally, a colorant. 
   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein a measured pH of a 10 weight percent mixture of 92 parts by weight of the anhydrous material and 8 parts by weight of POE (4) lauryl alcohol in water is between about 5.5 and about 8.5. 
   
   
       43 . A decorated plant or plant material comprising a flower, leaf and/or branch, and a decorative coating having a color, texture and/or gloss unusual to the native plant or plant material extending from a portion of the flower, leaf and/or branch, wherein the coating is applied as a substantially anhydrous material. 
   
   
       44 . The decorated plant or plant material of  claim 43 , wherein the substantially anhydrous material comprises a solvent, a binder soluble in the solvent and, optionally, a colorant.